Awning



Jan. 11, 1938. w. F. CRAWFORD AWN ING Filed May 26, 1936 grvucmkvn YV- ORA WFORD Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I AWNING Wilbur F. Crawford, Waco, Tex. Application May 26, 1936, Serial No. 81,930 8 Claims. (01. 15t 1'5j This invention relates to awnings, and more particularly to means for the ventilation of fabric awnings which fit closely against the window casing.

It has been found that in the use of the standard form of window awning, air is normally trapped in the upper portion of the awning and the temperature at the top part of the awning is increased, generally to the extent of eight to ten degrees. Furthermore, if the windows adjacent the awnings are open, the heated air enters the windows, causing a substantial heating effect in the adjacent rooms.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide ventilating means in an awning which are attractive in apearance and which prevent the trapping of air under the awning and which serve to prevent passage of heated air into the adjacent room when the windows are open.

- Another object of the invention is to provide ventilating means in connection with window awnings which are adapted to be used with any size awning to prevent the trapping of air at the top portion of the awning and which are designed to add to the appearance of the awning, particularly in the larger'sizes, by breaking the continuity of the flat surface at the sides of the awning.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of ventilatorin the side portions of an awning which may be made at a low cost, which will exclude rain and keep out the sun, and which will serve to provide a circulation of air to maintain the temperature adjacent the awning substantially normal.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the'various features hereinafter more fully described and set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

. The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, showing several preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of an awning embodying the invention, the awning being shown in position over a window casing;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentaryvertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4, is'a' side elevation of an awning embodying another expression of the invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on'the' line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sideelevation' of anawriing showing a further embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical view taken on line 'l--'! of Figure 6; and V Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken 5 on line 88 of Figure 6.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of i1- lustration, are shown several preferred embodisectional window casing 10 and side members 6 of substantially triangular form. The awning is mounted to fit closely against the window casing l 0 and may be held in position by the usual metal frame, not shown. i

To provide suitable ventilation, each of the side members 6 is made in two parts orin lower and upper sections l2 and I6, respectively, having the adjacent edge portions arranged in overlapping relation but spaced throughout practically the extent thereof, to provide a ventilating passage at the top of each side of the awning.-

By reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the lower section l2 which is of substantiah ly trapezoidal form has its upper edge l4 spaced from the top of the awning to leave a triangular opening over which the top section or flap mem ber' I6 is placed. V

The side edge portions of the member l6 are secured in place to provide continuity in the edges l8 and side member of the awning. More particularly, the member I 6 is secured to the top wall 4 and the lower section l2 by stitching extending along its forward edge and is also connected through the medium of stitching" at the rear corner thereof to the lower section l2.

The base portion of .the. member i6 is made substantially longer than the adjacentupper end of the lower section I2 so that when the member 40 I6 is secured in place with continuity in the edges l8 and 20,.this member is bowed outwardlyor transversely curved so as to. gap away from the adjacentupperportion of the section l2, to provide adownwardly opening ventilating passage 25 .located near the top of the awning at each side. thereof. t l

From the foregoing, it will belseen that currents of air indicated by the arrows rise to the top of the awning and escape through the guarded opemngs 25. Thus, the highly objectionable trapping of the air in the upper' portion of the awning is effectively avoided.

To aidin holding the flap 16 -in' extended or open position, stiffening means such, for example, as a section of rope 24, is sewed or otherwise secured in the base i'i of the member I6. This feature is illustrated particularly in Figure 4.

As is clearly evident from Figures 1 and 3, the flap member i6 projects below the upper edge l4 of the section 12 a distance of possibly an inch in the ordinary window awning to give the desired protection against sun and rain.

The improved ventilating means may be em bodied in a conventional or standard awning simply by cutting triangular sections out of the top of the side walls of the the triangular openings thus provided flap members l6 constructed and arranged in the manner heretofore described to provide ventilating passages in the top of the awning.

The expression of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 looks to increased ventilation and is particularly adaptable for use in awnings of the larger sizes. This form of the invention will be found to differ from the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1-3 in the provision in each side Wall 36 of a second ventilating opening 32 positioned below the top opening 34. This is made possible by embodying in the side wall 30 an additional or intermediate section 36.

, More particularly, the side wall 30 comprises an upper section 38, an intermediate section 36 and a lower section 39 which cooperate in a manner similar to the sections l2 and it in the form of invention shown in Figures 1-3 to form the ventilating passages 32 and 34. Obviously, this aflords increased ventilation which is desirable in awnings for use in connection with store windows, porches, and the like.

As in the case of the flap Hi, the base portions of the flap members or sections 355 and 38 are of a length to produce an outwardly bowed effect when the flaps are secured in place by stitching or the like. Also, the lower edge portions of the flaps 36 and 38 are provided with suitable stiffening means.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the side walls 40 of the awning are formed with upper and lower ventilating pas- Sages 42 and 44, respectively, the upper ventilating passage corresponding in construction and 1 being formed in a manner similar tothe previously described ventilating passages.

In this form of the invention, the side wall so comprises an upper section 46, an intermediate section 48 and a lower section 50 cooperating to provide the vertically spaced ventilating passages 42 and 44. a

From Figure 6, it is clear that the intermediate section 48 forms the main body portionof the side wall 40 and since the lower portion of this section overlaps and cooperates with the lower section 50, in the formation of the passages or openings 44; provision is made for a plurality of such openings arranged in a horizontal line. In other words, the openings or passages are formed in the relatively wide lower portions of the side walls,

The base portion of the intermediate section is secured at its side edges and at spaced points therebetween, by suitable means such as stitching to the lower section 50, tov form the spaced ventilating'passages 44 and such base portion is of a length to produce the outward bowing of the portions of the intermediate section extending over the passages 44.

While the improved ventilating means disclosed herein is preferably embodied in the side walls of the awning, it will be readily apparent that the awning and placing over,

being defined by an inventive idea may be carried out in connection with the front wall of an awning, although the location of the ventilating means in the front wall is not regarded as being as practical or desirable as the location of such means in the side walls of the awning.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention provides for the circulation of heated air so that instead of passing into the adjacent room through an open window or remaining as trapped air under the awning, it passes outwardly through the ventilating openings.

Further, the ventilating arrangements disclosed herein may be embodied in an awning Without adding appreciably to the manufacturing cost thereof.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention disclosed herein are to be taken merely as preferred examples thereof and that such changes in arrangement and construction may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: t

1. An awning having a wall embodying a pair of complementary sections defining the outline of said wall, said sections having edge portions arranged in overlapping relation, and spaced securing means for uniting the overlapped edge portions of said sections, the portion of one of said sections between being of greater length than the corresponding portion of the other section to cause that section to be spaced from the other section to provide a ventilating opening.

2. An awning having a side wall, said side Wall outer upper section and an inner lower section having their adjacent edge and corner portions arranged in overlapping relation, and spaced securing means'for uniting the adjacent corner portions of said upper and lower sections, the lower portion of said upper section being of greater length than the upper end portion of said lower section, whereby the upper section is caused to be spaced outwardly to define a downwardly opening, substantially concealed ventilating passage between said sections extending substantially throughout the length of said edge portions thereof.

3. An awning having a side wall, said side wall being defined by an outer upper section and an inner lower section having their adjacent edge and corner portions arranged in overlapping relation, spaced securing means for uniting the adjacent corner portions of said upper and lower sections, the lower portion of said upper section being of greater length than the upper end portion of said lower section, whereby the upper section is spaced outwardly to define a downwardly opening passage between said sections, and stiffening means in the lower edge portion of said upper section to aid in holding the same in spaced relation to the adjacent portion of said lower section thereby providing a ventilating opening extending substantially throughout the length of said overlapping edge portions.

4. An awning having a top member and a triangular side member, said side member embodying a lower section arranged in spaced relation to the top of the awning to define a triangular opening at the top portion of the side of the awning, a triangular cornered flap member extending over said opening and having its forward side edge secured to the adjacent longitudinal edge of said top member, said flap member extending beyondthe lower edge of said opening, and means said spaced securing means mediate section to said for securing the lower rear corner of said flap member to said lower section, the base of said flap member being of greater length than the base of the opening so that the flap is spaced from said lower section to provide a ventilating passage extending substantially throughout the length of the base of the opening over which said bowed flap member extends.

5. An awning having a side wall defined by upper, lower and intermediate sections, said intermediate section having edge portions arranged in overlapping relation with the adjacent edge portions of said upper and lower sections, and spaced securing means for connecting said interupper and lower sections, there being means for spacing the overlapped portions of said sections between said connecting means from each other to provide upper and lower substantially concealed ventilating openings in the side wall of the awning extending substantially throughout the length of the adjacent edge portions of said intermediate and upper and lower sections.

6. In an awning construction, a side wall defined by complementary wall sections, ventilating means provided from the material of the said side wall, said ventilating means comprising a downwardly opening slot formed by an upper wall section having an edge disposed in overlapping relation to the upper edge of an adjacent lower wall section, said upper section being secured to the lower section such that the intermediate portion thereof is disposed ln spaced relation thereto.

7. In an awning construction composed of front and side wall members, one of said members being defined by complementary wall sections, ventilating means provided from the material of said sectional wall member, said ventilating means comprising a concealed, downwardly opening slot formed by an upper wall section having an edge disposed in overlapping relation to the upper edge of an adjacent lower wall section, said upper section being secured to the lower section such that the intermediate portion thereof is disposed in spaced relation thereto.

8. In an awning construction composed of front and side wall members, one of said members being defined by complementary wall sections, ventilating means provided from the material of said sectional wall member, said ventilating means comprising a downwardly opening slot formed by an upper wall section having an edge disposed in overlapping relation to the upper edge of an adjacent lower wall section, said upper section being secured to the lower section such that the intermediate portion thereof may assume a spaced relation thereto, and stiffening means carried by said upper wall section to maintain the same in spaced relation to the lower wall section.

WILBUR F. CRAWFORD. 

